Conveyer



Sept. 1, 1931 8. w. SNODGRASS CONVEYER Filed July 11. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 1, 1931. B. w. SNODGRASS CONVEYER Filed July 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l atented Sept. 1 1931 inst BENJAMIN HALTER SNODGRASS, OF DENVER, COLURADO coNvEYnR" Application filed July 11, 1927. Serial No. 204,964..

This invention relates to conveyers to be used in connection with the mining and load ing of coal, rock or other material, and 1s prefe ably adapted to stand in a mine tunnel or chamber and to receive the coal, rock or- V other material at one end thereof and to carry it throughout its length and discharge it into cars or the like at the other end of the conveyer. It is also capable of use in conveying materials in otherthan mining oper- 0 ations if desired.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a conveyor that is adapted to stand alongside of and parallelto a train of cars.

Another object is to provide a conveyor that is adaptedto stand alongside of and parallel to a train of cars and to discharge laterally over the sides of the cars, so that a large number of cars can be quickly loaded in succession.

Another object is to provide a conveyor that can be moved by its own power,;either forwardly or backwarly. v 7

Another object is to provide a conveyor through an arc of a circle and the end 0 which section maybe adjusted vertically.

Another object is to provide a conveyor all ofthe parts of which are operated through a'single source ofpower. Another object is to provide new and novel arms or flights for carrying the material:

conveyor when they are being returned-to their starting position. 7 r

A still further object is to provide a conveyer that is adapted to operate in a contracted space. V 1 1 objects, advantages and capabilities iitner will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in thecombination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying draw-l ings; and while I haveshown therein a pre- 59 ferred embodiment I wish it to be understood view taken in a plane omitted. with a section that is adapted toswlngthat the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lnthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the forward or delivery section of the conveyer.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional represented by line 2-2 in'Fig. e.

Figs. 3 and 4 are segmental top plan views of the entire conveyor, Fig. 3 being a continuation of the right hand end of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 55 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarytop plan view of'an alternative form of the delivery end or forward section.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rear or loadingend.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional viewtaken in a plane represented by line 88 of Fig. 4:, with the exterior rearwardly moving flights Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views showing the pivotal connection between the arms or flight membersand the sprocket chain.

Referring now in. greater detail to the drawings, numeral 1 designates generally the front or delivery section and numeral 2 the roar or loading section of my conveyor, the

secti'ons'being interconnected and supported upon the brace members Sand lon one side of the conveyer and by the upright shafts 5 and 6 on the other side. The brace members are attached to a runner orsupporting memher 7, while the shafts 5 and 6 are mounted oaths runner or supporting member 8, the lower end oi? the shaft '5 fitting in a bearing 9,

'while theshaftb fits ina bearing 10, both bearings being mounted on the runner or supporting member8.

The rear section or loading end 2 is pivotally mounted on the rear end of the front or deliverv section andis adapted to swing hori-- zon'tally through a substantial angle on either side of the center line, so that the rear section can be moved as the loachng of the coal or other material progresses. This rear sectlon comprises a loading end having a nose 11 which is adapted to rest upon the ground or floor of the tunnel or breast of the mine, and which may be raisedvertically through a substantial angle without hindering the operation of the mechanism.

A shaft 12 extends across the free end of the rear or loading section and is provided with sprocket wheels 13 and'l i. A shaft 15, provided with sprocket wheels 16 and 17 e2;- tends across the rear or loading section at its front end, and at which end it is pivoted to the front section. An endless conveyer belt 18, constructed of any suitable material, is provided on both sides thereof with conveyer chains 19 and 20. The chain 19 engages with its respective sprocket wheels 13 and 16, while the chain 20 engages with the sprocket wheels 14 and 17, so that when the shaft 15 is rotated, the sprocket wheels interlink with the chain members and drive the conveyer belt. The endless conveyer belt is provided with flights constructed of angle irons 18 or the like, the flights being adapted to hold the coal on the belt and force it to discharge upon the rear end of the front section 1 of the conveyer. The side members 21 and 22 are provided to keep the coal from spilling over the sides of the conveyer belt.

The front section 1 comprises a chute 23 having a smooth lower surface 24 and sides 25 and '26. The side 25 is flared and extends at a. substantial angle from the floor or lower surface, while the side 26 comprises a vertical section 27 and an angular portion 28. An angle iron 28 is attached to the side 27 of the chute and acts as a keeper for the chain and prevents the chain carrying the flights 29 from lifting upwardly. In case one of the flights or arms is forced from this abutting edge or vertical section, the opposite edge of the flight will ride up on the flared side 25 without binding. The flights 29 are substantially A-shaped and comprise the side arms 30 and S1 and a bracing arm 32. These flights are pivotally attached by suitable members 33 to a chain 3% which chain passes around the sprockets 35 and 36' may be substituted for the member 38.

Mounted below the lower clutch 39 and operatively connected to said clutch is a rope drum 40 adapted to pull or draw the cars in place for the loading operation. As more clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the

, shaft 6 is vertically mounted, the lower end thereof fitting into a bearing 9, which bearing is mounted on the runner or supporting member 8. Mounted on the shaft 6 is a beveled gear 41, a sprocket 36 and a capstan 43. The'gear d1 meshes with and drives the beveled gear 44 mounted on the shaft 15.

The chute 23 is provided with a delivery apron or lateral extension 415. This apron at its front or discharge edge is inclined downwardly so that the coal or other material that is being conveyed forwardly on the conveyer, may slide over this apron by gravity and discharge into a car (not shown)- or it may be kept in horizontal position in the direction of the travel of the coal or material requiring the coal or the material to be forced off the end by the flights 29. Also the conveyer may be designed to discharge in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 4-. The apron is further provided with sides 437 and t8 and a cam surface 419 having an upward inclination. The purpose of this cam is to cause the flights to rise above the coal that is being continuously carried upon the apron, by riding upwardly along the cam edge. This carries the flight beyond the adjacent side 18 of the delivery apron after which they may drop down to a vertical position and travel alongside of (rather than over or under) the loaded section. This feature serves a most important function in that no extra space between the roof of the tunnel and top of the conveyer (or car) is required for the return of the empty arms or flights to the I 1 loading or rear end of section 1. This very greatly conserves space in a mine. The rear end of the section 1 is also provided with an apron or lateral extension 50. This apron is provided with. spirally curved surface cream 51, the function of which is to gradually raise the flight members from their vertical position to their horizontal operative position, allowing them to impinge against the'c oalthat is being dumped upon a portion a of the apron that is in direct alinement with the rear or loading section.

Fig. 6 discloses a similar conveyer, but which conveyer is provided with a bar 52 against which the arms or flight members contact as they over the side of the cam 49. This form of return for the arms or flights is used where the front section 1 is mounted closer to the ground or base of the tunnel, and thus failing to provide enough clearance for the arms or flights to hang in a vertical position. This bar will hold the arms or flights a certain distance above the ground, generally at the same level as the conveyer, (or at an upward inclination, if desired) and thus prevent them from impinging against or catching on any objects that would impair the operation of the conveyer, and further eliminates the use of the If in thisjform the bar 52 is"po sitioned to hold the flights at an upward angle, the cam 51 would then extendupsource of power connected to the drive member 38, although any form ofpulley or other means may be used for turning the shaft. As

this shaft 5 rotates, the sprocket mounted thereon is necessarily rotated. This sprocket engages with the chain 34 and drives the same in .a counter-clockwise rotation, thus propelling the operating flights forwardly on the section 1. This chain 34 engages with a sprocket 36 at the lower or rear end of the section 1, As .this sprocket 36 is rotated, it in turn rotates the shaft 6, and which shaft in turn rotates the gear 41. This gear n ieshes with a pinion 44 mounted on the horiz ontal shaft 15, and as the shaft 6 is rotated, the shaft l5 is likewise rotated. The sprockets 16 and 17, mounted on the shaft 15, rotate therewith and in turn drive the chains 19 and 20 to propel the endless conveyer beltlS forwardly from the loading end.

The drum 40 on shaft 5 (which drum also acts as a capstan) and the capstan 43 on shaft 6, enable the conveyer to be moved either forwardly or backwardly, by the use of a rope wound on either of these capstans as desired and secured to a fixed support in front of or back'of the conveyer. The entire conveyer can'thus be advanced toward the face or breast of the tunnel or chamber, or taken backwards from such face or breast of the tunnel or chamber a few inches or a few feet at a time without interrupting the conveying operatlon. Furthermore, while-1tis simultaneously conveying material and being shunted forwardly or backwardly, a

train of pit cars may be kept moving toor from the conveyer or loader by the rope drum 40 without interference to the operation the conveyer or loader.

The entire conveyer is adapted to be placed parallel to-and alongside of the tracks upon whicharelocated the train of cars. The dischargeibeing lateral, the entire train ofcars maybe loaded in succession, the advancing of the cars being accomplished through the mechanism of the conveyer by means of the rope drum or capstan located on the shaft 5.

Its usefulness isof a different character than previous conveyers, in that it can stand in a mine tunnel or chamber parallel to and alongside of the track; carry the material back from the face or breast and discharge it laterally into the pit cars thus accomplishing the loading of trains of cars without the uncoupling of the cars and the train, one from the other as each car is loaded and eliminating the long delays heretofore necessary as each loaded car was being taken out of the tunnel said chute.

and an empty car brought in to take its place. The conveyer may be made of any height or length to suit the various needs, and may be constructed of any suitable material such as wood orsteel, or of both. Its capacity is considerable, so that the coal or. other material that is being loaded may be continu ously shoveled upon the loading end, even though the discharging operation of the conveyer is stopped for any reason, such as the placing of another car into position. Through the means of the clutch mechanism located on the forward shaft 5,-the operation ofthe conveyer maybe stopped while the rope drum or capstan on such shaft isbeing operated to move the entire conveyer or for drawing another car in position to receive the discharged coal;

he use of the A-shaped arms or flights allows for the carrying of thecoal or other material, an indefinite distance in one direction, and then carrying it laterally in another direction to a discharge point, andwhen returning after discharging the material, to travel alongside of rather than over or under the loaded section.

laving thus disclosed the invention, I claim: V

1. In aconveyer, a delivery section comprising a chute, a chain mounted totravel over said chute, conveyer flights pivotally mounted on said chain, said conveyer flights adapted to pass over said chute and to carry their load to the discharge end of the delivery section, and when returning to drop to a vertical 2. A conveying device comprising a conveyer section, an endless driving means, and means pivotally connected to said driving means'and movable in substantially a horizontal position over said section in a discharge direction for progressively moving material over said section, said pivotal'ly con-' nected means dropping to a verticalposition in returning to thereceiving end of said section. I

3. In a conveyer, a delivery sectioncomprising a chute, one side of saidchute flaring outwardly, the other side thereof having a vertical portion and an outwardly flaring portion, drive means mounted to travel over said chute, a series of conveyer flights pivotally attached to said drive means, said attachment permitting said flights to drop to a vertical position for return movement.

4. A conveying device comprising a conveyer section, a driving means, means movable over said conveyer in substantially a horizontal position in a discharge direction and being pivotally connected to said driving means, me'ansfor lifting said movable means out of contact with the conveyed material at the discharge end of said section, said mov able means dropping to a vertical position position and pass alongside of from said lifting means and being returned to the receiving end of said section.

5. In a conveyor, a delivery section, a lateral extension for said delivery section, a series of conveyor flights for propelling material over said delivery section'and lateral extension, means for lifting said flights out of contact with the propelled material and allowing them to drop by gravity to a vertical position for return movement.

6. In a conveyor, a delivery section, a series of conveyer flights for propelling material over saiddelivery section, said flight-s dropping to a vertical position for return move ment, and'means for again raising said flights to their operative position. 7

7. In aconveyer, a delivery section, a lateral extension for said delivery section, a series of conveyor flights for propelling material'over said delivery section and lateral extension, means for lifting said flights out of contact with the propelled material and allowing them to drop by gravity for return movement, and means for again raising said flights to their operative position.

8. In a conveyor, flights movable thereover, vertical shafts for supporting said conveyer and for moving said flights, and means on said'shafts for moving said conveyor and for pulling a car into position to receive the discharge from said conveyor.

' 9. In a conveyer, a delivery section, a loading section connected thereto, supporting means for said sections and including a pair of vertical shafts mounted for the operation of said sections.

10. In a conveyor, a delivery sect-ion, a series of conveyer flights, a pair of vertical shafts for driving said conveyor flights and for providing a support for said delivery section.

11. In a conveyor, 21 delivery section, a series of conveyer flights, a pair of vertical shafts, sprockets mounted on said shafts and means meshing with said sprockets and driving said flights, said vertical shafts further providing support for said delivery section.

19.. In a conveyer, a delivery section, a series of conveyor flights operating in substantially horizontal position, and means for lifting said flights out of contact with the propelled material and for returning said convcyer flights in a downwardly extending position.

13. In a conveyor, a delivery section, a series of conveyor flights normally operating in substantially horizontal position for propelling material over said delivery section, and means for returning said flights in a downwardly extending position.

14. A conveying device comprising a conveyer section, and endless driving mechanism, means movable in substantially a horizontal position over said section and being pivotally connected to said mechanism, said means dropping to a vertical position at the discharge end of said section and returned toward the receiving end of the conveyor in that position, and means for raising said means from said vertical to a horizontal position.

15. A conveying device comprising a conveyer section, means movable along said section, and a series of flights pivotally connected with said movable means, said flights movable over said section in a discharge direction and dropping alongside of said section in a vertical position in returning to the receiving end thereof.

16. A conveying device comprising a conveyer section, an endless chain along said section, and a series of flights flexibly connected therewith, said flights movable over said section in a discharge direction and dropping into a vertical position in returning to the receiving end thereof.

17. In a conveying device, a conveyor section, a pair of runners therefor, flights movable over said section, and means including a pair of shafts mounted in one of said run 11ers for operating said flights and for supporting said section.

18. In a conveying device, a conveyer section, pair of runners therefor, flights mov able over said section, bearings mounted in one of said runners, and vertical shafts journaled therein for driving said flights and for supporting said section.

19. In a conveying device, a conveyer section, a pair of runners therefor, a pair of vertical shafts mounted in one of said runners for operating said section and for supporting the same, a driving member on one of said shafts, and a clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of said section.

20. In a conveying device, a conveyor section, pair of runners therefor, a pair of vertical shafts mounted in one of said runners for operating said section and for supporting the same and means mounted on one of said shafts for moving said section and for pulling a car into position to receive the dis charged material therefrom.

21. In a conveying device a conveyor section, a pair of runners therefor, a pair of vertical shafts mounted in one of said runners for operating said section and for supporting the same, means mounted on one of said shafts for moving said section and for pulling a car into position to receive the discharged material therefrom, and clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of said means.

22. In a conveying device, a conveyor section, supporting members therefor, flights movable over said section, and a pair of shafts mounted in one of said members for operating said flights and for supporting said section. V

23. In a eonveyer device, a conveyor section, supporting members therefor, a pair of mounted on one of said shafts for chain and flights.

connected to said chain, means mounted on said shafts engaging said chain, and means driving said 25. In a conveying device, a conveyer section, supporting members therefor, flights movable over said section, shafts mounted in one of said members for support of said section and for movement of said flights, and means including members mounted on said shafts for moving said section.

In Witness whereof, I. hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

BENJAMIN WALTER SNODGRASS. 

